A preliminary analysis of memorable support and nonsupport messages received by nurses in acute care settings

This study presents a preliminary analysis of recalled messages for support and nonsupport received by nurses in a midsize, midwestern hospital. In interviews nurses recalled specific incidents of support and nonsupport they had experienced in the workplace. The structural and functional characteristics of these memorable messages of support and nonsupport were then independently coded by trained coders within the following categories: (a) the structure and form of the message, (b) the context and timing of the message, (c) the relationship between the source and receiver, and (d) the content of the message and the message effects. The results of chi-square analyses and McNemar tests are presented. The results suggest that in the specific categorical areas examined, support and nonsupport messages exhibit a relatively high degree of similarity within-participants. That is, participants appeared to use a cognitive template for classifying communication acts as supportive and nonsupportive. Specific between-participant message similarities and differences are also enumerated and explained.